CAS-2: Cognitive Abilities Scale – Second Edition

Ages: 3 months through 3 years
Testing Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Administration: Individual 

The Cognitive Abilities Scale, Second Edition (CAS2) provides norm-referenced results useful in identifying children who have delays in cognitive development. A General Cognitive Quotient describes overall performance across all test items. A Nonvocal Cognitive Quotient describes children’s ability excluding performance on vocal items. This quotient is used for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are shy, have unintelligible speech, or are unwilling or unable to vocalize or talk. Results from the CAS2 provide detailed information for planning instructional programs. The CAS2 is playful in nature, and the engaging toys enhance children’s interest as well as the validity of the results. The CAS2 is designed to ease administration and scoring for examiners and the kit is easy to transport. The inconsistent nature of infant and toddlers’ responding is considered in the format of the test. Two forms are available in this revision: the Infant Form and the Preschool Form. The Infant Form allows testing of children as young as 3 months. It consists of 79 items divided into 3 sections:

• Exploration of Objects
• Communication with Others
• Initiation and Imitation The Preschool Form contains 88 items divided into 5 sections:
• Oral Language
• Reading
• Math
• Writing
• Enabling Behaviors

The CAS2 was normed on 1,106 children from 27 states. Characteristics of the normative group approximate those projected for the year 2000 in the 1997 Statistical Abstract of the United States with regard to gender, geographic region, occupation of parents, race, ethnicity, and urban/rural residence. The reliability of the CAS2 was studied extensively including internal consistency and interscorer reliability. Test-retest reliability data are provided for each 1-year age interval. Content validity is addressed in detail for each item on the test. Concurrent and construct validity are also addressed. Evidence is presented in the manual to show that items contain little or no bias for the groups studied. Predictive validity has been examined over approximately 5 years for the Preschool Form showing that results are predictive of later performance on both intelligence and achievement measures. One popular facet of the CAS that was retained is “Mikey’s Favorite Things,” a small black-and-white illustrated book that kids read from during the assessment and then get to take home with them as a coloring book. Features of the CAS-2 include the following:

• Completely updated norms, now stratified by age
• Expanded Age Range‹The new Infant Scale extends the age downward to 3 months!
• New and updated materials, including colored pictures and a carrying case
• Testretest data presented by 1-year age intervals
• New structure that eases administration and scoring
• The norm sample included children with physical and mental impairments
• Items based on research suggesting skills tested are important cognitive skills
• Content validity of each item is addressed
• Detailed results aid in planning individualized instruction
• Test contains no timed items
• Inconsistent responding of infants and toddlers considered in test format
• Vocal and Nonvocal results provided

COMPLETE CAS-2 KIT INCLUDES: Examiner’s Manual, 25 Profile/Examiner Record Booklets (Infant Form), 25 Profile/Examiner Record Booklets (Preschool Forms), 25 Symbol Reproduction Forms, 25 copies of “Mikey’s Favorite Things,” Picture Cards, Ramp, and Manipulatives Kit, all in a sturdy attaché case. (©2001)